Comments on Quickfire Question

Go to Azur's Musings & Missives - Add a comment - Go to Quickfire Question

Ermias, I'm sorry to say that I've never yet made the journey

through that book although I am somehow aware of the story.

posted by Azur on May 9, 2006 at 11:57 AM | link to this | reply

What can I learn from the twists and turns about human nature....why should Tolstoy let Natasha fall? Why not he let her the heroine angel she was? Why not? Obviously he was on her side. Is he going to redeem her? May be....still reading the book- War and Peace.

posted by Ermias on May 9, 2006 at 12:52 AM | link to this | reply

PS: FYI

George Burns's "Gracie: A Love Story" (with David Fisher); Samuel Clemens's "Autobiography of Mark Twain"; and "Dreamer of Dune" (by Brian Herbert, about his life and that of his father, author Frank Herbert).

posted by majroj on December 6, 2005 at 8:30 PM | link to this | reply

OK. Not hot cereal.

I'm reading three biographies right now, so I can remember an answer, if not the answer.

I have to be rooting for the principal, the subject. A sense of self-deprecating humor and modesty, yet the ability to exult in success. The absence of self-pity. A good editor.

Some of my acquaintances will read about someone who is astoundingly anything, be it ugly, evil, self-destructive, serially-married, co-incidentally married, catty...but not me. I might study something likke that, but for reading, give me someone I want to live next door. Not someone to see in the sideshow.

posted by majroj on December 6, 2005 at 8:24 PM | link to this | reply

Better late than never I have replied

Almost a month ago I asked a question here and have responded with a post. This comment is to alert

TIMMYTALES, Original_Influence, DancesWithWords, CunningLinguist,
CarolynMoe, majroj, Decshak, SYMPHONY (where are you?), Dave_Cryer (take care), Tiel, FactorFiction, BlancheDubois,
ariel70, Talion (yes the story is the thing), blackcat30 and Ariala. on November 8, 2005 at 1:02 PM (permalink)

posted by Azur on December 4, 2005 at 12:50 PM | link to this | reply

Mayb

It depends on what was going on in their life.

I am a fan of Robert Ludlum. The Bourne Identity is one of my favorite reads. The reason is that from the get go, I felt as if I were the man in the book, trying to figure out who I was. I eat up everything that he has written.

So, if it grabbed me from the start, I would continue to read.

posted by TIMMYTALES on November 27, 2005 at 11:57 AM | link to this | reply

I always finish a book once I start it.

posted by Original_Influence on November 22, 2005 at 7:21 PM | link to this | reply

you've gotta have a deep, dark family secret...

without a doubt, that would keep me reading till i found out what it was. once i did, i'd want to know what they do about it - resolution. If you write and throw one in, let me know!! :)

posted by DancesWithWords on November 20, 2005 at 8:39 AM | link to this | reply

I guess it's been said but...

what caused the change. The unexpected is the jewel of literature and I want to see a character or a plot do something surprising. Not completely unfounded behavior, mind you, but something that makes you say, "whoa, I didn't see that coming." I love it when there's a hint of foreshadowing that you completely forget about and - BAM! - you're hit with it at the end.

posted by CunningLinguist on November 19, 2005 at 10:15 AM | link to this | reply

CarolynMoe, yes it makes you wonder. I once hitchhiked and got in a car with a dead goat in the back

posted by Azur on November 19, 2005 at 9:20 AM | link to this | reply

Once while canoeing, we came around a bend and saw a cow having drowned with its front legs and head stuck in the river. It was both sad and perplexing - the impressionable emotions made us keep our eyes open as to what might be around the next turn.

posted by cmoe on November 19, 2005 at 6:33 AM | link to this | reply

Oatmeal.

posted by majroj on November 18, 2005 at 7:45 PM | link to this | reply

Mystery.

posted by WindTapper on November 13, 2005 at 4:10 AM | link to this | reply

Thanks all. I am going to update this blog in response just as soon as I sort out my life - please see my other blog

posted by Azur on November 12, 2005 at 1:07 PM | link to this | reply

I would be interested to know if the changes made a big difference in their

life etc...

posted by _Symphony_ on November 12, 2005 at 7:03 AM | link to this | reply

Tiel. thanks. I find short posts with unanswered questions unsatisfying too

I always want to know what the blogger thinks. I am on the road right now and I will give a considered opinion as soon as I'm back

posted by Azur on November 9, 2005 at 6:39 PM | link to this | reply

I'd be curious about any particular change they made which was a leap of faith towards their own future, whether they landed where they intended or ended up somewhere else because of the leap. I am interested in leapers who take semi-calculated risks.

posted by _dave_says_ack_ on November 9, 2005 at 8:28 AM | link to this | reply

I would want to know HOW the twists and turns led them to the changes---what was going on inside them as their life twisted and turned. Wouldn't have to have a happy ending; could be a sad or a bad ending. But how they interpreted what happened, how they saw it would be one of the important aspects of the story. The same twists and turns could create different life changes in different people. Thought provoking Q's like this are interesting and participatory, but don;'t forget it's always good to read what YOU have to say, as well.

posted by Tiel on November 8, 2005 at 3:56 PM | link to this | reply

a couple of thoughts-

For me, I always want to know motive. And I prefer stories with some action or unusual viewpoints...not too slow in the story's progress.

posted by FactorFiction on November 8, 2005 at 2:58 PM | link to this | reply

Excellent answers

I must try this with blogs more - ie quit writing and just asking short questions? I'll print this lot out

posted by Azur on November 8, 2005 at 2:05 PM | link to this | reply

Mayb,

I'd read for the story, the lessons, how the narrator perceived his or her life and how it shaped them. I really recommend "Jarhead" by Anthony Swofford for this reason: his narrative of his experiences as a young Marine in the 1st Gulf War and how he views that younger self, how it shaped him, plus his "voice" and writing are excellent.

posted by Blanche. on November 8, 2005 at 1:51 PM | link to this | reply

MAYB

To find our how things turned out ; the denouement. What I call the denouncement.

Twirling his thin moustache ( not mustache ) Poirot said " Hastings, mon ami, zee little grey cells tell me that our Lady Butltitrude is zee murderer!"

" How on earth can you tell that, Poirot, old chap?"

" First zee blood on her dress, second zat long knife zat I, with my superb vision, saw her slip down her garter."

" Oh, Poirot, you are so clever!"

posted by ariel70 on November 8, 2005 at 1:41 PM | link to this | reply

MayB

The things/events that lead up to the change, the moment the person realizes the change is necessary, and how he/she goes about it would interest me most. What keeps me reading anything is a pleasing narrative style. Don't just give me the facts, but tell me a story.